Yarn stand

ABSTRACT

A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand which has an outer ring of yarn holders, an inner ring of yarn holders, and one or more intermediate rings of yarn holders between the inner and outer rings. Spaced apart voids are provided in the stand between the inner and outer rings so that cones of yarn can be inserted from the underside of the stand onto the yarn holders of at least the inner ring and the innermost of the intermediate rings.

United States Patent Philip 4] YARN STAND [72] Inventor: Morris Philip, 2519 Grand Avenue,

Bronx, NY. 10468 [22] Filed: May 18, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 38,082

52 us. Cl. ..242/131, 66/125 A 511 Im. Cl. ..B65h 49/02, D02h 1/00, D03j 5/08 [58] Field ofSearch ..242/|30-|3|.1;2s/34; 66/125, 66/125 A, 132

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,571,523 10/1951 Bennett ..242/131 [151 3,669,379 [451 June 13, 1972 3,461,691 8/1969 Ballard ..66/125 2,179,015 11/1939 Lawson ..242/l30 Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Anorney-Tashof and Osheroff 57 ABSTRACT A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand which has an outer ring of yarn holders, an inner ring of yarn holders, and one or more intermediate rings of yarn holders between the inner and outer rings. Spaced apart voids are provided in the stand between the inner and outer rings so that cones of yarn can be inserted from the underside of the-stand onto the yarn holders of at least the inner ring and the innermost of the intermediate rings.

8 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 13 I972 3. 669 379 INVENTOR. M01605 P/m IP 'VWWW ATTORNEYS' YARN STAND This invention relates to a cylinder knitting machine yarn stand and more particularly to a yarn stand so constructed that cones of yarn can be positioned on the yarn holders without the necessity for reaching over the outer rings of the yarn holders.

In recent years there have been developed numerous multifeed circular knitting machines having a great many yarn feeds. Because of the large number of yarn feeds it is necessary to provide yarn holders which will accommodate the large number of cones of yarn to supply all the yarn feeds. In order to supply as many spools of yarn as possible, while at the same time keeping the diameter of the yarn stand down to a minimum size, the yarn holders are positioned in a tight array around the machine, the yarn holders being arranged in a plurality of concentric rings.

Because of this construction, when the cones of yarn are being positioned on the yarn holders it is necessary for the operator to reach over the outer rings of yarn holders to position the cones on the inner yarn holders. This is a cumbersome and dangerous practice. 7

According to the present invention, in order to reduce the need for reaching over the outer rings of yarn holders, voids are provided in the yarn stand through which spoolsof yarn can be inserted, from the underside of the stand, onto the inner rings of yarn holders.

Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylinder knitting machine yarn stand having an outer ring of yarn holders, an inner ring of yarn holders, and at least one intermediate ring of yarn holders between said inner and outer rings, the improvement comprising providing said stand with spaced apart voids intermediate said inner and outer rings, said voids being spaced apart at least sufficiently to permit cones of yarn to be inserted from the underside of said stand, through said voids, onto the upper side of said stand onto at least said yarn holders of said inner ring and of the innermost said intermediate rings. Preferably, there are at least two intermediate rings of yarn holders. The voids may define a ring free of yarn holders or there may be spaced apart yarn holders within the ring defined by the voids.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be reasily apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a diagrammatic top elevation of a fragmentary portion of a yarn stand showing the arrangement of the yarn holders according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top elevation of a fragmentary portion of a yarn stand according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top elevation of a fragmentary portion of a yarn stand according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4.is a diagrammatic top elevation of a fragmentary portion of a yarn stand according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Each of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 represents approximately onefourth of a complete yarn stand, that is, each figure represents approximately 90 of the 360 circle of the yarn stand. For convenience in understanding the invention and to show the relative positions of the various elements, the 90 segments of each of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been arranged about a center, which represents the center of the machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, the yarn stand or yarn rack comprises a central supporting annulus from which radiate supporting bars 11, which are interconnected by transverse supporting bars 12. On supporting bars 11 and 12 are mounted individual yarn holders, each represented by a circle. As is well known in the art, the yarn holder comprises a disc mounted on a supporting bar, the disc having at the center thereof an upstanding shaft. The cone or spool of yarn is positioned on the disc with the upstanding shaft passing through the core of the cone. The disc is normally of a smaller diameter than the diameter of a full cone of yarn, and is about the diameter of the core of the cone of yarn. For a clearer understanding of the invention the circles in the figures are drawn to a diameter approximately the diameter of a full cone of yarn but nevertheless, in this description each circle will be called a yarn holder, so that the diameters of the circles are actually greater than that of the disc which comprise the yarn holders.

The constructions of the annular member 10, supporting bars 11 and 12 and the yarn holders in FIG. 1 and in the other figures are all conventional and it is not considered necessary to describe them in detail. As is well known, the annular member is mounted above the knitting machine and the knitting machine itself is within the inner periphery of the yarn stand, the yarn stand being mounted above the machine with the bottom of the yarn stand being about 6 7 feet above the floor level. According to this invention, as in the prior art, the yarn coming from the cones of yarn is fed upwardly toa yarn guide at the center of the machine and then fed downwardly into the machine to be fed into the needles.

In FIG. 1 there is shown an array of yarn holders numbering 144 for the entire yarn stand and the yarn holders are arranged in six concentric rings, the outermost ring being constituted by yarn holders 13, the next ring inwardly therefrom being constituted by yarn holders 14, the next inward ring by yarn holders 15, the next inward ring by yarn holders 16, the next inward ring by yarn holders l8, and the innermost ring by yarn holders 20. It is noted that the holders of one ring are offset from the holders of the next ring, so as to provide the most compact array of holders, thereby keeping the diameter of the yarn stand at a minimum.

Since the knitting machine occupies the central area, the operator of the machine cannot obtain access to the inner rings from the center of the machine when the yarn stand is being loaded. The yarn stand is loaded by an operator standing on a ladder, stool, or other elevated support on the outer periphery of the yarn stand. It is apparent that the operator can easily reach, from the outer periphery, the yarn holders 13 of the outermost ring in order to position the cones of yarn thereon. The yarn holders 14 of the first intermediate ring are also easily accessable directly from the outer periphery. When the operator is placing the cone of yarn on the second intermediate ring constituted by yarn holders 15, he has to reach over a holder 13 or 14. This is not too difficult. However, there is much more difficulty in placing the cones of yarn on the intermediate rings constituted by yarn holders l6 and 18 and much more difficulty in reaching the innermost ring constituted by holders 20. In this instance he has to reach over an appreciable distance. This creates the danger of the operator falling and the possibility of becoming entangled with the yarn which is being fed from the outer rings to the yarn guide of the center of the machine.

If the stand of FIG. 1 were to hold cones, the ring of holders 13 would be eliminated. If the stand of FIG. 1 were to hold 96 cones, the ring of holders l4 additionally would be eliminated. However, in either event, it would still be necessary for the operator to reach over an appreciable distance from the outer periphery of the stand with the attendant difficulties.

The problems set forth in connection with FIG. I are avoided by means of the invention. In FIG. 2 there is shown a stand for 120 cones, the stand having the same construction as that of FIG. 1, except that the ring defined by holders 18 has been eliminated, being replaced by voids A, B, C, D and E. In other words, the stand of FIG. 2 comprises annulus 21, radial supporting bars 23 and transverse supporting bars 25 on which are mounted outer ring of yarn holders 22, a next ring of holders 24, a next ring of holders 26A through 26E, a next ring of holders 28A through 28F, followed by a ring of voids A through E, and finally an inner ring of holders 30A through 30F.

When the stand of FIG. 2 is to be loaded the operator can easily reach holders 22 and 24 from the outer periphery with no difficulty whatsoever. He can reach the ring of holders 26E through 26F with minimum difficulty. To supply the other holders, the operator stands beneath the yarn stand and inserts the cones of yarn upwardly from beneath the yarn stand through the voids A through E. Through void A he can easily reach holders 30A, 30B, 28A and 288, as well as holder'26A; through void B he reaches holders 30B, 30C, 28B, 28C and 26B, and so on around the stand. It will therefore be appreciated that the operator does not have to reach over a plurality of rings of holders to reach the inner holders.

In FIG. 3, another embodiment of the invention, there is shown a yarn stand similar to that of FIG. 2, except that the ring of holders 22 has been eliminated, thereby providing 96 holders. This stand comprises annulus 31, radial bars 33, transverse bars 35, holders 32, 34, 36A through 36F and 38A through 38F. It is apparent that the ring of holders 38A through 38F and the ring of holders 36A through 36F can easily be reached through the voids F, G, H, .I and K, while the holders 32 and 34 are reached from the outer periphery.

In each of the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 the voids define a ring of spaced apart voids uninterrupted by yarn holders. However, if desired, this ring of voids can also include spaced apart yarn holders and this is shown in FIG. 4. The yarn stand of FIG. 4 comprises the annulus 41, the radial supporting bars 43 and the transverse supporting bars 45. Yarn holders 40, 42, 44A 44F and 46A 46F are mounted on the supporting bars. Thus far the structure of F164 is the same as that of FIG. 3. However, the yarn stand of FIG. 4 includes, in addition, spaced apart transverse bars 47 on which are mounted yarn holders 48A, 48B and 48C, with spaced apart voids, such as L and M, alternating with the yarn holders of the ring including holders 48A, 48B and 48C. Holders 40 and 42 are easily reached from the outer periphery of the machine. Through void L there can be reached holders 48A, 46B, 44B, 46C, 44C and 48B. Through void M there can be reached holders 48B, 46D, 44D, 46E, 44E and 48C.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the voids can be dis tributed through a yarn stand in an interrupted or uninterrupted arrangement.

In all the illustrated embodiments the voids are between the inner ring of yarn holders and the innermost of the intermediate rings. It will also be appreciated that there may be an additional intermediate ring (not shown) of yarn holders between the voids and the inner ring of yarn holders. In such a construction there can be reached, through the voids, the yarn holders of the inner ring and the yarn holders in the intermediate rings adjacent the voids, whether the yarn holders of such intermediate rings are positioned inwardly or outwardly from the voids.

In all the illustrated embodiments, as well as in the prior art example of FIG. 1, the holders of the inner ring are positioned as closely as possible to each other, with the holders of each of the remaining rings being somewhat spaced apart so that the yarn holders of one ring are offset or staggered relative to those of the ring adjacent thereto. This provides the tightest array of holders, thereby keeping the yarn stand at a minimum diameter. It will be appreciated that in some constructions it may be desirable, although perhaps with less efficient utilization of space, to have the holders of each concentric ring aligned radially. The invention is just as applicable to such constructions.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that the essence of the invention is the provision of a yarn stand having at least one outer ring of yarn holders, one inner ring of yarn holders, and having one or more intermediate rings of yarn holders, with the stand being provided with voids intermediate the inner and outer rings. In this manner the outer ring and usually at least one intermediate ring of holders is easily accessable from the outer periphery of the machine for loading the yarn onto the holders. The voids are so spaced that the yarn cones can be'inserted from the underside of the stand through the voids onto the holders of the innerring and at least the innermost of the intermediate rings.

I claim:

1. In a cylinder knitting machine yarn stand having an outer ring of yarn holders, an inner ring of yarn holders, and at least one intermediate ring of yarn ho ders between said inner and outer rings, with the first of said intermediate rings being adjacent said outer ring so as to define an outermost pair of yarn holder rings, the yarn holders of said outermost pair being arranged in a substantially compact array, the improvement comprising providing said stand with spaced apart voids intermediate said inner ring and said outermost ring pair, said voids being spaced apart at least sufficiently to permit cones of yarn to be inserted from the underside of said rack, through said voids, onto the upper side of said rack onto at least said yarn holders of said inner ring and of the innermost of said intermediate rings.

2. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 1, having at least two intermediate rings of yarn holders.

3. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 1, having at least three intermediate rings of yarn holders.

4. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 1, wherein the voids define a ring between said inner ring of yarn holders and the innermost of said intermediate rings.

5. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 4, wherein said ring defined by the voids is uninterrupted by yarn holders.

6. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 4, wherein in said ring defined by said voids there are spaced apart additional yarn holders.

7. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 1, having at least a second intermediate ring of yarn holders, said second intermediate ring being adjacent said first intermediate ring, with the yarn holders of the three outermost rings being arranged in a substantially compact array.

8. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 7, wherein the yarn holders of the inner ring are in a substantially compact array. 

1. In a cylinder knitting machine yarn stand having an outer ring of yarn holders, an inner ring of yarn holders, and at least one intermediate ring of yarn holders between said inner and outer rings, with the first of said intermediate rings being adjacent said outer ring so as to define an outermost pair of yarn holder rings, the yarn holders of said outermost pair being arranged in a substantially compact array, the improvement comprising providing said stand with spaced apart voids intermediate said inner ring and said outermost ring pair, said voids being spaced apart at least sufficiently to permit cones of yarn to be inserted from the underside of said rack, through said voids, onto the upper side of said rack onto at least said yarn holders of said inner ring and of the innermost of said intermediate rings.
 2. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 1, having at least two intermediate rings of yarn holders.
 3. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 1, having at least three intermediate rings of yarn holders.
 4. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 1, wherein the voids define a ring between said inner ring of yarn holders and the innermost of said intermediate rings.
 5. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 4, wherein said ring defined by the voids is uninterrupted by yarn holders.
 6. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 4, wherein in said ring defined by said voids there are spaced apart additional yarn holders.
 7. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 1, having at least a second intermediate ring of yarn holders, said second intermediate ring being adjacent said first intermediate ring, with the yarn holders of the three outermost rings being arranged in a substantially compact array.
 8. A cylinder knitting machine yarn stand according to claim 7, wherein the yarn holders of the inner ring are in a substantially compact array. 